30th anniversary of Singapore Science Centre on 10 Dec 2007
Science Centre was completed in the 1970s and opened by Dr Toh Chin Chye on 10 December 1977
The Singapore Science Centre opened its doors to the public on 10 December 1977, more than two decades after such a science centre was first envisaged. Built at the cost of S$20 million, the Science Centre was set up to promote interest and learning in science and technology to students and the general public. This objective came at a time when Singapore was industrialising rapidly and going up the technology ladder was all-important. The centre was appropriately sited in Jurong, near Jurong industrial estate, Singapore’s first industrial hub.
The idea of a science centre in Singapore was first envisaged in 1955 by a group of men comprising Rex Anthony Shelley (Hume Industries Ltd), Ronald Sng Ewe Min (Science Council of Singapore), Bernard Tan (University of Singapore) and Sng Yew Chong (Ministry of Education). They had visited a number of science centres overseas and felt that such a centre in Singapore would be a useful avenue for promoting science and technology in Singapore. The group was planning a small centre in a rented shop house because of their limited budget. However, their plans became a much larger public project after the idea was picked up by Dr Lee Kum Tatt, then Chairman of the Science Council of Singapore.
The Science Council had been set up in 1967 with the specific goal of promoting knowledge and use of science and technology in Singapore and one of its functions was to act as an adviser to the government in this field. In 1968, the Science Council set up a special committee to take charge of the preparatory work for a science centre. The committee was made up of members who had first conceived of a science centre in 1955. In 1969, the committee approached UNESCO for an adviser to assist in drawing up the proposal for a science centre. UNESCO assigned M. K. Weston, a curator from the Science Museum in London, to Singapore from 27 September to 30 November 1969. The detailed proposal was submitted to then Minister for Science and Technology Toh Chin Chye on 20 November 1969. The proposal was accepted and to make the centre an autonomous body under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Science Centre Bill was introduced.8 Among other things, the bill stated that the Science Centre would take over the natural history component of the National Museum. On its 30th anniversary in 2007, the Singapore Science Centre was renamed the Science Centre Singapore. This continues to be its name.
New Science Centre to open in 2027 due to a 2-year delay caused by Covid-19 disruptions
The new building will be located next to Chinese Garden MRT station and form part of the Jurong Lake District development project. PHOTO: MOE, SCIENCE CENTRE
The new Science Centre building in the Jurong Lake District will be completed in 2027 – two years later than expected, owing to disruptions and delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In response to queries, the Science Centre Board and the Ministry of Education (MOE) said more time was taken to conduct engineering studies aimed at making sure that the building was cost-effective.
In the meantime, the Science Centre will keep its doors open at its long-time home in Jurong East, said Science Centre Board chief executive Lim Tit Meng.
New Science Centre next to Chinese Garden MRT slated to open in end-2027
A new Science Centre located next to Chinese Garden MRT station is targeted to open around the end of 2027, its 50th anniversary.
"This is an outcome of more than a decade of collaborative STEM efforts involving many partners" and is the result of "long-term integrated planning", Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive of Science Centre Board.
On Nov. 1, 2023, the Science Centre Board held a groundbreaking ceremony at the 7.4-hectare site it will be built on. About 25 per cent bigger than the current Science Centre in Jurong East, visitors can look forward to unique facilities and more programmes at the new 55,000 sqm building.
New Science Centre Beside Chinese Garden MRT Will Have Rooftop Garden & Observatory Overlooking Jurong Lake
New Science Centre Will Be Right Next To Chinese Garden MRT Station
Most fondly a venue for school learning journeys or family trips, the Singapore Science Centre may evoke childhood memories for many residents of the country. By the end of 2027, the iconic establishment will be relocating to a new site in the Jurong Lake District.
The Science Centre Board has planned for the new site to be 25% bigger than the current one, located right beside Chinese Garden MRT Station. Visitors can find a bigger and better KidsSTOP as well as the fire tornado show.
Aimed at being the heart of the community, the new Science Centre will also include lush greenery integrated with the nearby gardens. Construction works are slated to begin in 2024 and the SCB aims for an end-2027 opening for its 50th anniversary.
Five highlights to look out for at the new Science Centre
An artist's impression of the night view from one of the rooftop gardens at the new Science Centre. PHOTO: SCIENCE CENTRE SINGAPORE
The new Science Centre in the Jurong Lake District is expected to open by end-2027, the year of its 50th anniversary. Construction works are scheduled to start in the first half of 2024.
The 55,000 sq m building, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects together with local firm Architects 61, will be developed over a site of about 7.4 ha. It will be about 25 per cent larger than the current centre.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wednesday 1 Nov 2023 for the new centre, at the site next to Chinese Garden MRT station. Here are five things visitors can expect to see at the new centre when it is completed:
- Larger children’s gallery
- Fire tornado show
- Attractive views
- More focus on real-world issues
- Test bed for new experiences
New Science Centre to keep pace with society’s challenges: SM Teo Chee Hean
An artist‘s impression of a technology fashion runway show at the Activity Plaza of the new Science Centre. PHOTO: SCIENCE CENTRE SINGAPORE
Beyond featuring new exhibits and spaces, the new Science Centre – slated to open by end-2027 – has to be relevant to the challenges of today and the future, said Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean on Wednesday.
To this end, the centre, which will be situated next to Chinese Garden MRT station, will run programmes and workshops to meet the interests of students, he said, and feature modern themes like food security and sustainability.
It will also provide spaces for innovation and tinkering, like specialised labs and indoor maker spaces, for visitors to experiment with technology and tools. The new Science Centre in the Jurong Lake District is expected to open by the end of 2027, which coincides with its 50th anniversary. Construction works are scheduled to start in the first half of 2024.
Singapore’s new Science Centre by Zaha Hadid Architects breaks ground
Singapore’s Science Centre Board held a groundbreaking ceremony on 1 Nov 2023 for the New Science Centre, at the site located next to Chinese Garden MRT station. The new Centre will offer unique facilities and a wide range of programmes to drive STEM education in Singapore. Set to be a key landmark attraction of the Jurong Lake District, the approximately 55,000 sqm building, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects in collaboration with Architects 61 Pte Ltd, will be developed over a site of about 7.4 hectares, and will be about 25% larger than the current Centre. The new Science Centre is targeted to open around end-2027, the year of its 50th anniversary.
Mr Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security, and Patron of Science Centre Board; Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education; Ms Tan Yen Yen, Chairman, Science Centre Board; and Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Board, officiated the ceremony on 1 Nov 2023.
Commenting on this important milestone towards realising the new Science Centre’s vision, Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive of Science Centre Board said, “The Science Centre is now 46 years old and during this journey of more than four decades, the locale has been a landmark for generations, inspiring countless individuals who are today some of Singapore’s best STEM talents. Through strategic community partnerships and innovative programme development, we aim to make the new Science Centre a place where guests of all backgrounds not only want to visit but leave with a heightened curiosity about the world of science and technology.”
Key features of Science Centre could be retained for community use after it relocates
Science Centre was completed in the 1970s and opened by Dr Toh Chin Chye on 10 December 1977.
Science Centre Singapore will shift to a new location near Chinese Garden MRT station in the mid-2020s, but elements of its original home in Jurong East could be kept and repurposed.
In an interview with The Straits Times earlier in May, National Development Minister Desmond Lee said the authorities are exploring the possibility of retaining significant elements of the existing building, noting that the centre has an iconic character.
Singapore Science Centre
Officially opened on 10 December 1977, the centre rebranded itself as the Science Centre Singapore
The Science Centre Singapore, previously known as Singapore Science Centre is a scientific institution in Jurong East, Singapore, specialising in the promotion of scientific and technological education for the general public. It houses over 850 exhibits over eight exhibition galleries and receives over a million visitors every year. In 2003, it celebrated its silver jubilee.
The Science Centre was carved out of the National Museum of Singapore as a separate institution so that the latter could focus on its artistic and historical collections. This idea was first mooted in 1969 by the former Science Council of Singapore, now known as the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), and was approved by the government. The SCS building's design was decided by an architectural competition organised by the Science Centre Board, in which Raymond Woo architects' entry was selected. Built at a cost of S$12 million on a 60,000-square-metre (650,000 sq ft) site in Jurong East, it was officially opened on 10 December 1977 by Dr. Toh Chin Chye, the Minister-in-charge of the centre.
On 4 April 2008, the Urban Redevelopment Authority announced plans to relocate the Science Centre next to Chinese Garden MRT station within ten to 15 years. On 24 May 2019, the Science Centre board awarded a multi-disciplinary team led by Architects 61 for the design of the new centre, expected to be ready by 2025. It said the team, which includes Zaha Hadid architects, submitted the "best proposal which reflected the boldness of scientific endeavour and future focused Stem aspirations". The new design was unveiled on 2 December 2022, with completion now scheduled for 2027.
Singapore's Iconic Buildings & Landmarks
Capitol Theatre, briefly Kyo-Ei Gekijo, is a historic cinema and theatre located in Singapore. It was adjoined to four-storey building known as the Capitol Building. The Capitol Theatre was considered one of Singapore's finest theatres in the 1930s during that time.
In 1929, Mirza Mohamed Ali Namazie, a Persian businessman of the Namazie family, commissioned the theatre to be built in Singapore, with S. A. H. Shirazee, an Indian-Muslim merchant and community leader, and the South African brothers Joe and Julius Fisher from First National Pictures, joined in to form Capitol Theatres Ltd as its operator. Namazie would serve as the theatre company's chairman with Shirazee as director, Joe Fisher as managing director and his brother Julius Fisher as the publicity manager. Architecture and equipments
Joe Fisher travelled overseas to acquire the materials for the theatre's furnishings, decorations and design. The Capitol Theatre was designed neoclassical architecture by British architects Keys and Dowdeswell, with its general plan, seating arrangements and lighting inspired from the Roxy Theatre in New York, United States. Builders Messrs Brossard and Mopin began construction of the foundation around July 1929. Messrs Sherwin-Williams Paint Co. in collaboration with local partner Messrs Lohmann and Co., designed the theatre's walls' and ceilings' detailing. Although installed with ventilation system, the theatre's roof was able to slide open which leave a 40-foot aperture for more ventilation.
The first layout of the theatre could accommodate at least 1,600 people, with 1,100 seated on the ground floor. Another 500 seats were available at the circle that could be accessed via lifts or staircases. The seats were a few inches wider than normal British cinema seats, and the upholstery was supplied by a New York company. The theatre had a large projection room located below the balcony and ran the length of the building instead of being traditionally sited in the rear. It housed the latest Simplex projector installed with fireproof protection shutters. The theatre's acoustics and soundproofing were said to be exceptional at that time. Special expensive sound installations costing at least 40,000 Straits dollars were imported from Western Electric Company. The theatre's stage was also designed for stage productions, with changing rooms and organ chambers built into the theatre. It was also the first to equip multihued lighting system using concealed lamps with a dimmer function, which was never used in other existing theatres in Singapore at that time. Besides having the floodlit main entrance at the junction of Stamford Road and North Bridge Road, there are also two side entrances from Stamford Road and North Bridge Road, with a parking lot to accommodate at least 200 cars. There were several food outlets at the theatre. The main café on the first floor had a dance floor where cabaret was held at the selected nights, and adjoining the café was a restaurant known as the Capitol Restaurant. A café lounge was located at the circle. A special cooling room for making French pastries was built in the kitchen on the ground floor. Its adjoined building known as Namazie Mansions, which was named after the Chairman Namazie, was completed in the early 1930.
